Stadium naming rights to be sold

LANSDOWNE ROAD is set to be renamed once the €250 million re-development of the ground is completed over the next four years.

The naming rights for the famous old stadium which has housed international rugby since 1878 and soccer since the 1970s will be auctioned to the highest bidder in the coming months as the IRFU and FAI look to recoup whatever costs they can on their multi-million euro outlay.

According to sources close to the project, the government have set down no stipulations with regards the name of the stadium and it looks more than likely at this point in time that the rights will be sold to the highest bidder.

The naming rights for Lansdowne Road are expected to net the sporting organisations up to 20m for a ten-year deal.

FAI chief executive Fran Rooney, who was present at the Irish Examiner Junior Sports Awards in Dublin, said: "We haven't decided on any definite course of action as of yet but selling the naming rights for the stadium is a strong possibility.

"The government have been extremely good in allowing us an almost free hand with everything to do with the project and they haven't insisted on any name for the stadium. It's been left down to ourselves and the IRFU which is fantastic."

No major stadium in Ireland has been renamed by a sponsor. But there are a few examples of this trend in England and more particularly, in Australia.

Bolton Wanderers play their home games at the Reebok Stadium while in Australia, the Sydney Olympic Stadium has officially changed its name to the Telstra Stadium since the games in 2000.

The only prominent Irish example of this trend is the home of Longford Town, Flancare Park.

In the Irish market, there are likely to be a whole host of bidders for the naming rights of the stadium.

Back in 1998, Eircom fought off major competition to win the naming rights to the FAI's proposed new stadium near Baldonnel, but of course that project never got off the ground.

The company are likely to be at the centre of any new bidding war, along with a host of other telecommunications company keen to promote a global brand.

Meanwhile, Irish boss Brian Kerr spoke yesterday of his frustrations in not getting enough to time to work with his international players.

The Irish coach, who is now in the job slightly more than a year, admitted that he loves his role apart from the fact that he gets very little time to preach his message to his players.

"It's frustrating that I don't have enough matches and I don't have enough time with the players to build up the understanding that I want to have with them," said Kerr.

"You get them for two or three days at a time and it's crash, bang, wallop trying to get stuff across to them. But that situation's improving slightly. We have three games before the summer and then possibly a tour to look forward to so at least things are getting a touch better."

Ireland are set to play the Czech Republic at the end of the coming month and then have two further fixtures against Romania at home and Poland away before the end of the English season.